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Xinyi Shen,1,2 Ge Guo,1,2 Guoquan Feng,3 Zhongqun Wang1,2 1Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People’s Republic of China; 3Imaging Department, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhongqun Wang, Email wangtsmc@126.comIntroduction: Vascular calcification is a major cause of cardiovascular accidents in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the impact of carbohydrates on gut microbiota and aortic calcification in diabetic ApoE−/− mice.Methods: The diabetic ApoE−/− mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: ketogenic diet group, low carbohydrate diet group, medium carbohydrate diet group, and high carbohydrate diet group. The mice were fed continuously for 6 months, with blood glucose, blood ketone and body weight monitored monthly. Lipid metabolism indicators and inflammatory factors were detected using ELISA. The intestinal barrier, atherosclerotic lesion areas, and vascular calcifications were analyzed based on their morphology. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA genes.Results: We found that ketogenic diet played some roles improving glucose, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Ketogenic diet could improve the intestinal barrier to some extent and increase intestinal bacteria. Compared to the other three groups, the relative abundance of genus Allobaculum, species Blautia producta and Clostridium Ramosum in the ketogenic diet group was significantly increased (P < 0.05), which has protective effects in diabetic ApoE−/− mice.Conclusion: Ketogenic diet could delay the onset of aortic atherosclerosis, aortic calcification and improve intestinal barrier function in diabetic ApoE−/− mice. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, vascular calcification, gut microbiota, low-carb diet, ketogenic diet, inflammation

Boyong Wang,1,&ast; Qiaojie Wang,1,&ast; Mingzhang Li,1 Jinlong Yu,1 Feng Jiang,1 Yujie Hu,1 Geyong Guo,1 Xiaohua Chen,2 Jin Tang,3 Pei Han,1 Hao Shen1 1Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hao Shen, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China, Email shenhao7212@sina.comObjective: The diagnosis of tubercular orthopedic implant-associated infection (TB-IAI) is challenging. This study evaluated the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for the diagnosis of TB-IAI and developed a standardized diagnostic procedure for TB-IAI.Methods: The records of all patients with TB-IAI diagnosed and treated at our institution between December 2018 and September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographic characteristics, medical history, laboratory test, microbial culture, histopathology, and mNGS results, and time to diagnosis were recorded. The diagnostic efficiency of mNGS for TB-IAI was assessed by comparing the results and diagnostic time with that of other diagnostic modalities.Results: Ten patients were included in the analysis, including eight with prosthetic joint infections and two with fracture-related infections. The mNGS positivity rate was 100% (10/10), which was higher than that of TB-antibody (11%, 1/9), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (22%, 2/9), T-SPOT.TB (25%, 2/8), purified protein derivative (50%, 4/8), microbial culture (50%, 5/10), and histopathology (20%, 2/10). mNGS shortened the time to diagnosis of TB-IAI. A standardized diagnostic procedure for TB-IAI was developed based on the findings.Conclusion: mNGS is useful for the diagnosis of TB-IAI. mNGS is recommended in cases where it is difficult to identify a pathogen using routine diagnostic tests. The standardized diagnostic procedure might improve TB-IAI diagnosis.Importance: TB-IAI is a rare infection, which occurs after orthopedic surgery and hard to diagnose microbiologically. mNGS is a new detection technique not yet discussed in current literature as a means for TB-IAI diagnostics. Here we describe a cohort of patients with TB-IAI diagnosed by mNGS show high efficiency of mNGS for detection of this pathology and present a clinical algorithm supplementing conventional methods for TB-IAI assessment.Keywords: metagenomic next-generation sequencing, implant-associated infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, orthopedic infection, diagnosis

Guanshuai Guo,1,2,&ast; Xi Chen,1,2,&ast; Jingran Zhang,1,2 Xiangmin Meng,3 Aifeng Jia,4 Xinli Xing,5 Fenglei Huang,6 Xumei Zhang,2,7 Juan Liu,8 Shuying Li,3,9 Qiang Zhang1,2 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 2Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s and Children’s Health Center of Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Reproductive Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Center of Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Biomedical Information and Library, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 9NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shuying Li, Department of Endocrinology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, Tianjin, 300380, People’s Republic of China, Email lsy_tj2006@163.com Qiang Zhang, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 022 83336633, Email qiangzhang@tmu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to explore the association between N-6 adenine-specific DNA methyltransferase 1 (N6AMT1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the modification of the relationship by folate and vitamin B12.Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 1303 pregnant women (262 GDM and 1041 non-GDM) was performed in Tianjin, China. Nine SNPs in N6AMT1 were genotyped, and serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine (Hcy) levels were measured. The logistic regression models determined the odds ratios (ORs) for SNPs in N6AMT1 and the gene-nutrition interactions on GDM.Results: N6AMT1 rs7282280, rs1048546, and rs1997605 were related to GDM under the dominant model after adjusting for multiple covariates. Individuals carrying the N6AMT1 rs7282280 TC/TT genotypes had a lower risk of developing GDM, regardless of serum folate and vitamin B12 levels. However, rs1048546 TG/GG genotypes were associated with lower GDM risk when serum folate ≥ 6.0 ng/mL. Pregnancies with the risk genotypes in N6AMT1 and higher serum folate or lower vitamin B12 are more prone to GDM. The study also showed a statistically significant additive interaction between N6AMT1 rs1997605 GG genotypes and lower vitamin B12 (RERI: 2.54; 95% CI: 0.17, 4.92).Conclusion: SNPs in N6AMT1 were found to be associated with GDM, and serum folate and vitamin B12 levels can modify their associations.Keywords: N6AMT1, folate, vitamin B12, gene-nutrition interaction, gestational diabetes mellitus

Yangyang Hui,1,&ast; Han Wang,2,&ast; Gaoyue Guo,1,&ast; Wanting Yang,1 Xuqian Zhang,3 Jie Yang,1 Fang Yang,4 Xiaoyu Wang,1 Xiaofei Fan,1 Binxin Cui,5 Xin Chen,1 Huanli Jiao,2 Chao Sun1,5 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Health Management, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Digestive System, Baodi Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huanli Jiao; Chao Sun, Tel +8613642060733 ; +8613820846027, Fax +86-022-27813550, Email jiaohuanli@163.com; chaosun@tmu.edu.cnPurpose: The utility of the EuroQol Group 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been verified; however, knowledge gaps remain concerning predictive performance in cirrhosis. We aimed to identify the optimal threshold for risk stratification and the pronounced domain in the EQ-5D linked to inferior outcomes.Patients and Methods: The X-tile project was used to obtain a threshold, considering the composite outcome of 1-year all-cause mortality or readmission. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was performed to test the non-linear relationship between the EQ-5D utility value and the primary outcome. Six multivariate Cox regression models incorporating EQ-5D utility value and each of the five domains were constructed.Setting/Participants: Totally, 420 patients with cirrhosis were recruited.Results: The median utility value of the study population was 0.77 and 59.8% reported impairment in minimal one EQ-5D domain. RCS indicated a linear relationship between the utility value and composite inferior outcome. X-tile pinpointed a utility value of 0.59 stratifying populations into high- and low-risk groups based on the outcome. Inpatients with cirrhosis and deteriorated HRQoL (utility value ≤ 0.59) were at higher risk of death or readmission (adjusted HR: 2.18, P < 0.001). Furthermore, mobility and usual activities were the most pronounced domains associated with composite inferior outcome.Conclusion: A utility value ≤ 0.59 can identify cirrhotic inpatients exhibiting compromised HRQoL and mortality/readmission risk. It is tempting to reverse the decreased HRQoL by applying longitudinal measurements and keeping surveillance on utility value, while interventions appear to mainly focus on improving mobility and usual activities.Keywords: EQ-5D, liver cirrhosis, mortality, readmission, disability-adjusted life year

Gang Guo,1,2,&ast; Yanling Zheng,3,&ast; Xuexian Ma,4 Li Sun,5 Qimanguli Wushouer,1 Bin Jia,1 Muladier Yusufu,5 Shu Wen,6 Tuerhong Abudureyimu,6 Xiaowang Peng,6 Zhenjiang Liu,6 Xirizat Mamut,6 Yanggui Chen,7 Jian Zhang,8 Yuling Yang,9 Liusheng Huangfu,9 Jun Li,1 Wenbao Zhang1 1State Key Laboratory Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asian, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China; 2Suzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China; 4Shache People’s Hospital, Shache, People’s Republic of China; 5Yingjisha County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yingjisha, People’s Republic of China; 6Kashgar Regional Lung Hospital, Kashgar, People’s Republic of China; 7Urumqi Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China; 8High-Tech District Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Urumqi, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China; 9Xinhuarui Information Co., LTD, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenbao Zhang, Tel +86 15276692787, Email wenbaozhang2013@163.comPurpose: To increase pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) treatment adherence in Xinjiang Region, an electronic DOTS (eDOTS) system developed was applied and evaluated.Methods: An eDOTS system comprised electronic medicine boxes, mobile phones and a central processing platform. Between April and June 2016, persons with active PTB (PAPTB) were recruited from villages and a city and were prescribed a six-month course of antibiotics using either DOTS or eDOTS. Treatment adherence rate and chest X-ray digital radiography (DR) score were used to evaluate usefulness of eDOTS.Results: A total 167 PAPTB were recruited with 81 participants from villages and 86 from neighbourhoods. Of the 81 village patients, 43 (53%) used eDOTS and 38 (47%) used DOTS. Among the 86 patients from neighbourhoods, 50 (58%) used eDOTS and 36 (42%) used DOTS. After 6 months of treatment, the average treatment compliance of the village patients who used eDOTS were 47.0%± 20.5% compared to 26.7%± 21.1% who used DOTS (t=− 4.475, p< 0.001). The patients using eDOTS from both the villages and city had significantly lower X-ray DR scores than the patients using DOTS by 1.81 points, 95% CI (0.72– 2.90) and 1.05 points, 95% CI (0.15– 1.95), respectively.Conclusion: eDOTS is an effective means of managing the treatment of active PTB patients through daily reminding and monitoring of patient compliance. Ease of contact with doctors and special education programs encouraged PAPTB to complete their treatment course as required.Keywords: tuberculosis, infection, drug treatment, prevention/control program

Huan Lin,1 Haiyong Ao,2 Guanghua Guo,1 Mingzhuo Liu1 1Medical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobiomaterials & School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guanghua Guo; Mingzhuo Liu, Medical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Medical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17, Yongwai Zheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613007222275 ; +8615879093602, Email ndyfy00655@ncu.edu.cn; ndyfy05397@ncu.edu.cnAbstract: Metformin is a classical drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. With the development of research on metformin, it has been found that metformin also has several advantages aside from its hypoglycemic effect, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-cancer, improving intestinal flora, and other effects. The prevention of inflammation is critical because chronic inflammation is associated with numerous diseases of considerable public health. Therefore, there has been growing interest in the role of metformin in treating various inflammatory conditions. However, the precise anti-inflammatory mechanisms of metformin were inconsistent in the reported studies. Thus, this review aims to summarize various currently known possible mechanisms of metformin involved in inflammatory diseases and provide references for the clinical application of metformin.Keywords: metformin, AMPK, inflammation, mechanisms

Lijun Zhou,&ast; Xinyu Qi,&ast; Guiying Guo, Yanling Wang, Jianjun Yang, Dingbin Yang, Shuqiong Huang Department of Dermatology, People’s Hospital of Leshan, Leshan, Sichuan, 614000, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shuqiong Huang, Department of Dermatology, People’s Hospital of Leshan, No. 238, Bai Ta Road, Shi Zhong Qu, Leshan, Sichuan, 614000, People’s Republic of China, Email 793438717@qq.comAbstract: Cutaneous hyphomycosis caused by Purpureocillium lilacinus is a relatively uncommon event in patients, but there has been a gradual increase in reported cases. A 71-year-old female patient was hospitalized in May 2022 due to an acute episode of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and received glucocorticoid infusion. The skin around the puncture point on the back of her right hand showed erythema, nodules, scabs, and pus discharge, which gradually worsened. Fungal examination revealed the presence of hyphae, while treatment with terbinafine was ineffective. After fungal culture, pathological analysis, and molecular biology identification techniques, this case was diagnosed as cutaneous and subcutaneous infections caused by Purpureocillium lilacinus. After 2 weeks of treatment with itraconazole, the patient recovered. Patients on long-term hormone preparations who undergo superficial venipuncture should be aware of the risk of skin damage and potential infection by Purpureocillium lilacinus. Prompt fungal culture, histopathological analysis, and molecular identification are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Antifungal susceptibility testing should be considered for effective treatment.Keywords: infection of Purpureocillium lilacinus, superficial venipuncture, a case report, infection

Jian Peng,1– 3,&ast; Yue Wang,3,&ast; Zhaoyin Wu,3 Chengju Mao,3 Lu Li,1,2 Huijun Cao,4 Zhilang Qiu,3 Guo Guo,3,5 Guiyou Liang,4,5 Feng Shen1,2 1Department of Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, People’s Republic of China; 2Guizhou Institute of Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Cellular Immunotherapy Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cardiac Surgery, the affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550009, People’s Republic of China; 5Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Feng Shen; Guiyou Liang, Email doctorshenfeng@163.com; guiyou515@163.comIntroduction: Acinetobacter baumannii has become a major difficulty in the treatment of bacteria-associated infection. The previously reported antimicrobial peptide Cec4 exhibited good and stable activity against A. baumannii in vitro, but the mechanisms and effects in vivo are elusive.Methods: The effects of Cec4 on bacterial membrane permeability, membrane potential and bacterial reactive oxygen species were measured. The cell membrane localization of antimicrobial peptides was studied by fluorescence labelling. The ability of bacteria to develop resistance to antimicrobial peptides was studied by continuous induction, and transcriptome difference was analysed. The in vivo toxicity of Cec4 against nematodes and mice was studied, and the in vivo therapeutic potential of Cec4 against A. baumannii was assessed.Results: Cec4 effectively cleared multidrug-resistant A. baumannii by altering bacterial cell membrane permeability, changing bacterial cell membrane polarity, and increasing bacterial intracellular reactive oxygen species. Cec4 affected the expression of the secretion system, outer membrane, and efflux pump genes of A. baumannii. In addition, the bacteria did not acquire stable drug-resistant ability. Cec4 at 1.024 mg/mL did not affect the proliferation of HeLa and HepG2 cells, and Cec4 at 45 mg/kg had little effect on the mortality of Caenorhabditis elegans, even the liver and kidney tissues of mouse. Most importantly, Cec4 could effectively improve the survival rates and reduce the bacterial load of various tissues in the mouse model of infection.Conclusion: In conclusion, Cec4 can damage the cell membrane of bacteria, and the bacteria is not easy to produce resistance to Cec4. Besides, Cec4 has good potential for the treatment of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections.Keywords: antimicrobial peptide, A. baumannii, sepsis, skin infection, drug safety

Gangqiang Guo,1,&ast; Huijing Wang,2,&ast; Xinya Tong,1,&ast; Lele Ye,1 Xinyu Shi,1 Su Fang,1 Ya Hu,3 Fei Han,2 Chaosheng Chen,3 Ning Ding,1 Bofeng Su,3 Xiangyang Xue,1 Huidi Zhang3 1Wenzhou Collaborative Innovation Center of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Basic Research & Precision Medicine, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Cancer-Related Pathogens & Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, People’s Republic of China; 2Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bofeng Su; Huidi ZhangDepartment of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, People’s Republic of China, Email 24449681@qq.com; hd_zhang@163.comObjective: Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, play indispensable roles in regulating target gene transcription and maintaining cell identity in cooperation with promoters. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional landscape and potential functions of eRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods: PBMCs from five patients with stable SLE, five patients with active SLE, and ten healthy individuals (HCs) were subjected to RNA-sequencing. Putative regulators, differential expression, and pathways were analyzed. eRNAs that were significantly upregulated were first validated by RT-qPCR in 12 samples. Then, candidate eRNAs were confirmed in a validation cohort of 45 samples. We conducted comprehensive pathway analyses to explore the correlations between the candidate eRNAs and SLE pathology.Results: By analyzing eRNA transcript data from PBMCs from SLE patients and HCs, we identified various eRNAs and functional super-enhancers potentially related with SLE. The SLE-specificity of eRNAs seemed to be largely driven by SLE-specific transcription factors (TFs). A Venn diagram of eRNAs differentially expressed in stable, active, and total SLE vs HCs revealed that 13 and 23 eRNAs were commonly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in patients with stable SLE and those with active SLE. The commonly upregulated eRNAs participate in regulating SLE-related pathways. Only eRNA TCONS_00034326 was significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated in PBMCs of patients with SLE when compared with those of HCs as indicated by RT-qPCR. The area under the receiver-operating curve of TCONS_00034326 for distinguishing SLE patients from HCs was 0.691. Through its putative SLE-related master TF, TCONS_00034326 is involved in multiple SLE-relevant signaling pathways, especially tumor necrosis factor signaling.Conclusion: This study unraveled the transcriptional landscape of eRNAs, eRNA-related TFs, and super-enhancers in PBMCs from SLE patients and HCs. We identified a panel of SLE-relevant eRNAs, providing potential targets in SLE pathogenesis.Keywords: enhancer RNA, eRNA, systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE, PBMCs, transcription factors, TFs, super-enhancer

Weida Fu,&ast; Shurong Zheng,&ast; Jieyu Zhou, Kangkang Lu, Yiqiao Lu, Guilong Guo Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Guilong Guo, Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-13867709361, Email guoguilong@sina.comAbstract: Male breast carcinoma metastatic to the choroid is very rare and often related to poor prognosis. Herein, we report the findings in a Chinese male breast cancer patient who developed choroidal metastasis, and give opinions on systemic treatments. A 45-year-old Chinese male represented with difficulty breathing and visual impairment in the left eye 6 years after his breast cancer surgery and postoperative adjuvant treatment. PET/CT revealed multi-organs metastasis of the patient. The IHC indicated the lung lesion to be originated from the breast (ER+/PR+/HER2-). Eye examination provided evidence for breast cancer choroidal metastasis. Two cycles of TX (docetaxel + capecitabine) followed by two courses of GP (gemcitabine + cis-platinum) were applied as salvage chemotherapy. Metastases in his lung and bone remained stable. As for choroidal metastasis, a regimen of CDK4/6 inhibitor (Palbociclib) plus fulvestrant was recommended to the patient, which led to a good response. Notably, CDK4/6 inhibitor combined with endocrine therapy may be considered as an effective treatment for hormonal receptor-positive breast cancer patients with choroidal metastasis. We recommend that eye examination should not be neglected in breast cancer patients.Keywords: choroidal metastasis, male breast cancer, systemic therapy, CDK4/6 inhibitor, case report

Gengxuan Guo,1 Yu Jia,2 Wenlong Mu,3 Tao Wang4 1School of Business, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 4Research Center for Organizational Marketing of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yu Jia, Email jiayu219@whu.edu.cnPurpose: Previous research on the service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of employees has mainly focused on the examination of its driving factors, and has ignored the consequences that it may bring to the workplace. To bridge this research gap, by shifting the focus to the event observers, a double-edged sword model is constructed in the present study, which helps explain whether, when, and why the service-oriented OCB of coworkers is contagious.Methodology: Multi-wave data of 239 employees from seven service-oriented companies in the hospitality industry in central and southwestern China were used to support the proposed model. The time-lag method and critical incident techniques were introduced during the data collection stage. OLS regression and the bootstrapping method were employed for hypothesis testing.Findings: Drawing on attribution theory, it is argued that the contagion (vs non-contagion) effects of service-oriented OCB work through the dual cognitive pathways (hypocrisy perception vs serving self-efficacy) of observers, which depend on the self-serving attribution of the observers to the behaviors of their coworkers. Specifically, when the self-serving attribution of observers is high, the service-oriented OCB of their coworkers is positively associated with the hypocrisy perception of the observers, which in turn inhibits their own service-oriented OCB. In contrast, when the self-serving attribution of observers is low, the service-oriented OCB of their coworkers is positively associated with the serving self-efficacy of the observers, which in turn promotes their service-oriented OCB. This framework provides a valuable theoretical explanation perspective and empirical evidence for the exploration of how service-oriented OCB affects observers.Keywords: contagion, service-oriented OCB, attribution

Longbing Yang,1 Zhuqing Tian,1 Luoxiong Zhou,1,2 Lijuan Zhu,1 Chaoqin Sun,1 Mingjiao Huang,1 Jian Peng,1,3 Guo Guo1,3,4 1School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China; 4Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guo GuoBuilding Wuben, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, College Town, Gui’an New District, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/fax +86 851 882 59268, Email guoguojsc@163.comBackground: Cryptococcus neoformans is a common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised people, as well as a prevalent cause of meningitis in HIV-infected individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance and the shortage of antifungal drugs, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has antifungal activity against C. neoformans. However, its antifungal and anti-biofilm activities remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of AMP-17 against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans.Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating concentration (BIC and BEC) were determined by the broth microdilution assay or the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay, respectively. The inhibitory and killing activities of AMP-17 against C. neoformans were investigated through the time-inhibition/killing kinetic curves. The potential antifungal mechanism of AMP-17 was detected by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The efficiency of AMP-17 against biofilm formation or preformed biofilm was evaluated by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. The morphology of pre-biofilms was tested by optical microscopy (OM) and CLSM.Results: AMP-17 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans planktonic cells and biofilms, with MICs of 4∼ 16 μg/ml, BIC80 and BEC80 of 16∼ 32 μg/ml, 64∼ 128 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the 2× and 4× MIC of AMP-17 exhibited similar inhibition levels compared to the 2× and 4× MIC of the clinical drugs FLC and AMB in C. neoformans growth. Moreover, the time-kill results showed that AMP-17 (8× MIC) did not significantly eliminate colony forming units (CFU) after 6 h of treatment; however, there was 2.9-log reduction in CFU of C. neoformans. Furthermore, increasing of the permeability of the fungal cell membrane was observed with the treatment of AMP-17, since the vast change as fungal leakage and cell membrane disruption. However, the DNA binding assay of AMP-17 indicated that the peptide did not target DNA. Besides, AMP-17 was superior in inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of C. neoformans compared with FLC.Conclusion: AMP-17 exhibited potential in vitro antifungal activity against the planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans, and it may disrupt fungal cell membranes through multi-target interactions, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy and experimental basis for Cryptococcus-associated infections.Keywords: antimicrobial peptides, AMP-17, Cryptococcus neoformans, antifungal mechanism, anti-biofilm

Zhenjun Xu,1,&ast; Kai Zhong,2,&ast; Guanjun Guo,1,&ast; Can Xu,1 Zhizhao Song,1 Dongjin Wang,1 Jun Pan1 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China; 2Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jun Pan; Zhenjun XuDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 25 68182222-60721Fax +86 25 83105117Email pj791028@163.com; xzj881225@163.comBackground: Aortic dissection (AD) is a threatening and catastrophic vascular disease with high mortality rate and limited therapeutic strategies. There is emerging evidence showing that circular RNAs play crucial role in regulating various cardiovascular diseases. However, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in AD still remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the potential functional roles and mechanisms of hsa_circ_TGFBR2 in vitro and in vivo.Methods: The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and AD-VSMCs were isolated from normal aorta and AD tissues. The expression of circ_TGFBR2, miR-29a and KLF4 were detected by realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay, colony formation and EDU assay. Cell migration was evaluated through transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pulldown were performed to identify the interaction between circ_TGFBR2 and miR-29a or between miR-29a and KLF4. The wild-type sequence of circ_TGFBR2 or KLF4 were cloned into the luciferase reporter plasmid, and the activity was measured using dual-luciferase reporter assay system. And for RNA pulldown, the relative RNA enrichment of circ_TGFBR2 and miR-29a were confirmed using RT-PCR. Western Blot measured the expression of phenotype switch-related proteins. AD rat model induced by β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate (BAPN) was used to verify the role and mechanism of circ_TGFBR2.Results: Circ_TGFBR2 inhibited cell proliferation and migration of AD-VSMCs cells. Overexpression of circ_TGFBR2 promoted the expression of contractile markers (α-SMA, SM22α) and inhibited the expression of synthetic markers (MGP, OPN) in AD-VSMCs cells. Circ_TGFBR2 served as a sponge for miR-29a targeting KLF4. MiR-29a mimics rescued biological roles induced by circ_TGFBR2 overexpression. The in vivo experiments revealed that overexpression of TGFBR2 suppressed the progression of AD and increased the expression of contractile markers while inhibited the expression of synthetic markers.Conclusion: Our study revealed that circ_TGFBR2 regulated VSMCs phenotype switch and suppressed the progression of AD.Keywords: aortic dissection, circ_TGFBR2, miR-29a, KLF4, vascular smooth muscle cells

Donglu Zhao, Qi Xing, Hang Song, Yan Zhao, Guiying Guo No. 4 Ward of Hematology Department, Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Harbin First Hospital, Harbin 150010, Heilongjiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Donglu ZhaoNo. 4 Ward of Hematology Department, Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Harbin First Hospital, No. 149 Diduan Street, Daoli District, Harbin 150010, Heilongjiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13936254716Email zhaodonglu123@163.comBackground: Long noncoding RNA LINC00265 or miR-4500 is involved in the pathogenesis of many cancers. However, their functions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated how LINC00265 and miR-4500 regulate the malignant characteristics of ALL.Methods: Real-time PCR was used in examining the expression of LINC00265 in ALL cell lines and blood of patients with ALL. Cell proliferation, cell migration, and xenograft tumor assays were performed to verify the function of LINC00265 subjected to overexpressing and silencing experiments. The ceRNA mechanism with LINC00265/miR-4500/STAT3 was investigated through luciferase and RNA pull-down assays. Finally, the function of the LINC00265/miR-4500/STAT3 axis subjected to overexpressing and silencing assays was determined through cell proliferation, cell migration, and xenograft tumor assays.Results: LINC00265 was highly expressed in ALL cell lines and blood of patients with ALL and facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion, and growth of xenograft tumors of ALL cells. The silencing of LINC00265 expression with LINC00265 siRNA significantly inhibited the malignancy of the ALL cells. RNA pull-down and luciferase assays demonstrated that LINC00265 competitively targeted miR-4500 and enhanced STAT3 expression. Furthermore, miR-4500 inhibitors or overexpressed LINC00265 up-regulated STAT3 expression, and miR-4500 mimics or STAT3 shRNAs eliminated the LINC00265-induced malignancy of the ALL cells.Conclusion: Mechanistically, LncRNA LINC00265 can competitively interact with miR-4500 and thereby up-regulates STAT3 signaling and enhances the malignancy of tumors.Keywords: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, LINC00265, miR-4500, cell proliferation

Gengxuan Guo,1 Qunxi Gong,2 Sipan Li,1 Xuedong Liang1 1School of Business, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2The Economy and Enterprise Development Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xuedong Liang Email liangxuedong@scu.edu.cnPurpose: Previous studies on negative workplace gossip have neglected the role of gossip receivers. The current study aims to explore the interpersonal interaction mechanism between gossip receivers and communicators. Drawing on social information processing theory, we propose a theoretical model for the relationships between negative workplace gossip, psychological safety, ostracism, and coworker-exchanges.Participants and Methods: Multi-wave data of 386 employees from eight service-oriented companies in China supported the proposed framework. Critical incident techniques and time-lag method were used for data collection. SPSS and Mplus were employed for hypothesis test.Results: The empirical results indicated that negative workplace gossip was positively related to gossip receivers’ ostracism (sender-oriented), among which receivers’ psychological safety (sender-oriented) played a mediating role. In addition, the coworker exchange relationship moderated the relationship between negative workplace gossip and ostracism, and the psychological safety of interviewees also plays a mediating role. Specifically, the effect of negative workplace gossip on psychological safety and the mediating effect of psychological safety were stronger when the coworker exchange relationship was higher.Conclusion: Drawing on social information processing theory, the present study constructed a process model of the recipients’ sender-oriented ostracism reactions to negative workplace gossip, which helps explain the cognitive psychological mechanism and the boundary conditions of the above “perception-interpretation-behavior” social information process model. The above framework contributes to both theory and practice.Keywords: negative workplace gossip, psychological safety, ostracism, coworker exchange relationship

Huiling Ma,1,2 Xinyu Zhao,1 Longbing Yang,1 Peipei Su,1 Ping Fu,1,3 Jian Peng,1,3 Na Yang,4 Guo Guo1,3,4 1Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Sanquan College of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Food Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guo Guo Tel +86 13765024379Email guoguojsc@163.comBackground: Candida albicans is associated with high mortality among immunocompromised patients. Resistance to and toxic side effects of antifungal drugs require the development of alternative antifungal agents. AMP-17 is a novel antimicrobial peptide derived from Musca domestica that exerts excellent antifungal effects against the Candida species. In this article, we discuss the potential mechanism of AMP-17 against C. albicans from the perspective of affecting the latter’s cell external structure.Methods: Recombinant AMP-17 was prepared by prokaryotic expression system, and its anti-C. albicans activity was detected by microdilution method. Microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine morphological changes in C. albicans. Cell wall-specific staining method was used to detect the change of cell wall integrity of C. albicans after AMP-17 treatment. AMP-17-induced damage to the C. albicans cell membrane was analyzed by fluorescent probes and glycerol assay kit. The expression of genes related to fungal cell wall and cell-membrane synthesis was detected by qRT-PCR.Results: Morphological observations showed that the growth of C. albicans was significantly inhibited in AMP-17-treated cells; the cells appeared aggregated and dissolved, with severe irregularities in shape. Furthermore, AMP-17 damaged the integrity of C. albicans cell walls. The cell wall integrity rate of AMP-17-treated cells was only 21.7% compared to untreated cells. Moreover, the change of membrane dynamics and permeability suggested that the cell membrane was disrupted by AMP-17 treatment. Genetic analysis showed that after AMP-17 treatment, the cell wall synthesis-related gene FKS2 of C. albicans was up-regulated 3.46-fold, while the cell membrane ergosterol synthesis-related genes ERG1, ERG5, ERG6, and MET6 were down-regulated 5.88-, 17.54-, 13.33-, and 7.14-fold, respectively.Conclusion: AMP-17 treatment disrupted the cell wall integrity and membrane structure of C. albicans and is likely a novel therapeutic option for prevention and control of C. albicans infections.Keywords: AMP-17, C. albicans, cell wall, membrane dynamics and permeability

Di Chuan,* Yuelong Wang,* Rangrang Fan, Liangxue Zhou, Haifeng Chen, Jianguo Xu, Gang Guo State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gang Guo; Liangxue ZhouState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 28-8516 4063Fax +86 28 85164060Email guogang@scu.edu.cn; liangxue_zhou@126.comBackground: Duraplasty is one of the most critical issues in neurosurgical procedures because the defect of dura matter will cause many complications. Electrospinning can mimic the 3D structure of the natural extracellular matrix whose structure is similar to that of dura matter. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) has been used to fabricate dura matter substitutes and showed compatibility to dural tissue. However, the mechanical properties of the PLLA substitute cannot match the mechanical properties of the human dura mater.Methods and Results: We prepared stereocomplex nanofiber membranes based on enantiomeric poly(lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid)-grafted tetracalcium phosphate via electrospinning. X-ray diffraction results showed the formation of stereocomplex crystallites (SC) in the composite nanofiber membranes. Scanning electron microscope observation images showed that composites nanofibers with higher SC formation can keep its original morphologies after heat treatment, suggesting the heat resistance of composite nanofiber membranes. Differential scanning calorimeter tests confirmed that the melting temperature of composite nanofiber membranes was approximately 222°C, higher than that of PLLA. Tensile testing indicated that the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation break of the stereocomplex nanofiber membranes were close to human dura matter. In vitro cytotoxicity studies proved that the stereocomplex nanofiber membranes were non-toxic. The neuron-like differentiation of marrow stem cells on the stereocomplex nanofiber membranes indicated its neuron compatibility.Conclusion: The stereocomplex nanofiber membranes have the potential to serve as a dura mater substitute.Keywords: poly(lactic acid), dura matter substitute, stereocomplex crystallites, electrospinning

Guangxiu Guo,* Sujuan Dai,* Qing Chen Department of Pathology, The People’s Hospital of Ganzhou, Gannan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Guangxiu GuoDepartment of Pathology, The People’s Hospital of Ganzhou, 18 Meiguan Road, Gannan 341000, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail drguangxiuguo@163.comObjective: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a class of important biological regulators. lncRNAs participate in diverse biological functions and disease processes, especially those leading to tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigate the role of linc00261 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.Methods: linc00261 and NME1 expression levels were determined in breast cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue using qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation and migration were analyzed using MTT and transwell assays, respectively. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers were examined via Western blotting assay. RNA pull-down was used to examine the interaction between linc00261 and the NME1 mRNA transcript.Results: linc00261 is expressed in lower levels on breast cancer tissues than in para-carcinoma tissues. Reintroduction of linc00261 can inhibit the migration of breast cancer cells and arrest their proliferation. Additionally, linc00261 knockdown is sufficient to cause breast carcinoma tumorigenesis. We also found that linc00261 interacts with NME1 mRNA, protecting it from degradation. This protection leads to increased cellular levels of NME1, which functions as suppressor of tumor metastasis.Conclusion: Taken together, these data demonstrate detailed mechanistic links between the linc00261/NME1 axis and tumorigenesis and show that linc00261 might serve as a novel therapeutic target.Keywords: linc00261, NME1, breast cancer, E-cadherin, N-cadherin

Yuanyuan Zhang, Yang Hu, Min Li, Jieman Wang, Gengshuo Guo, Fang Li, Boyang Yu, Junping Kou Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Boyang Yu; Junping KouJiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 25-86185157Fax +86 25-86185158Email boyangyu59@163.com; junpingkou@cpu.edu.cnIntroduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides unique advantages for treatment of ischemic stroke, an aging-related vascular disease. Shengmai powder (GRS) is composed of three active components, specifically, ginsenoside Rb1, ruscogenin and schisandrin A, at a ratio of 6:0.75:6. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of GRS on blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction under conditions of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R).Methods: C57BL/6J mice subjected to MCAO/R were used as a model to assess the protective effects of varying doses of GRS (6.4, 12.8, and 19.2 mg/kg) on BBB dysfunction.Results: GRS reduced cerebral infarct volume and degree of brain tissue damage, improved behavioral scores, decreased water content and BBB permeability, and restored cerebral blood flow. Moreover, GRS promoted expression of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 while inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP-2/9) expression and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. In vitro, GRS (1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) enhanced the viability of bEnd.3 cells subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and decreased sodium fluorescein permeability.Conclusion: Consistent with in vivo findings, ZO-1 and claudin-5 were significantly upregulated by GRS in bEnd.3 cells under OGD/R and MMP-2/9 levels and MLC phosphorylation reduced through the Rho-associated coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK)/cofilin signaling pathway. Based on the collective findings, we propose that the TCM compound, GRS, plays a protective role against I/R-induced BBB dysfunction.Keywords: GRS, ischemic stroke, blood–brain barrier, endothelial, tight junctions, ROCK/cofilin

The precious rare edible fungus Morchella conica is popular worldwide for its rich nutrition, savory flavor, and varieties of bioactive components. Due to its high commercial, nutritional, and medicinal value, it has always been a hot spot. However, the molecular mechanism and endophytic bacterial communities in M. conica were poorly understood. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the genome of M. conica SH. Transcriptome analysis reveals significant differences between the mycelia and fruiting body. As shown in this study, 1,329 and 2,796 genes were specifically expressed in the mycelia and fruiting body, respectively. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment showed that RNA polymerase II transcription activity-related genes were enriched in the mycelium-specific gene cluster, and nucleotide binding-related genes were enriched in the fruiting body-specific gene cluster. Further analysis of differentially expressed genes in different development stages resulted in finding two groups with distinct expression patterns. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment displays that glycan degradation and ABC transporters were enriched in the group 1 with low expressed level in the mycelia, while taurine and hypotaurine metabolismand tyrosine metabolism-related genes were significantly enriched in the group 2 with high expressed level in mycelia. Moreover, a dynamic shift of bacterial communities in the developing fruiting body was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing, and co-expression analysis suggested that bacterial communities might play an important role in regulating gene expression. Taken together, our study provided a better understanding of the molecular biology of M. conica SH and direction for future research on artificial cultivation.

Xiaohong Xu,1 Vinothkumar Rajamanickam,1 Sheng Shu,1 Zhoudi Liu,1 Tao Yan,1 Jinxin He,1 Zhiguo Liu,1 Guilong Guo,2 Guang Liang,1 Yi Wang1 1Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yi WangChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +8657785773060Email yi.wang1122@wmu.edu.cnBackground: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer which is associated with poor patient outcome and lack of targeted therapy. Our laboratory has synthesized a series of indole-2-carboxamide derivatives. Among this series, compound LG25 showed a favorable pharmacological profile against sepsis and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the chemotherapeutic potential of LG25 against TNBC utilizing in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: Changes in cell viability, cell cycle phases and apoptosis were analyzed using MTT, clonogenic assay, FACS and Western blotting assays. The anti-cancer effects of LG25 were further determined in a xenograft mouse model.Results: Our findings reveal that LG25 reduced TNBC viability in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric and Western blot analyses showed that LG25 enhances G2/M cell cycle arrest and induced cell apoptosis. In addition, LG25 treatment significantly inhibited Akt/mTOR phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). These inhibitory activities of LG25 were confirmed in mice implanted MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells.Conclusion: Our studies provide experimental evidence that indole-2-carboxamide derivative LG25 effectively targeted TNBC in preclinical models by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, through suppressing Akt/mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathway.Keywords: indole analog, triple-negative breast cancer, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, Akt, mTOR

Jian Peng,1–3 Huiling Long,3 Weiwei Liu,2,3 Zhaoying Wu,1,3 Tao Wang,3 Zhu Zeng,1–3 Guo Guo,2,3 Jianwei Wu31Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biology & Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, People’s Republic of China; 3Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, People’s Republic of China Background: A case of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), known as gram-negative bacteria, causes a range of nosocomial infections. Due to the continuous detection of multi-drug resistant A. baumannii in the clinic, there is an urgent need to find alternative therapies, including broad-spectrum antibacterial peptides (AMP). Recently it has been found that the peptide Cec4 has good antibacterial activity against A. baumannii, but the antibacterial mechanism remains elusive.Materials and methods: The basic structure of Cec4 was analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and the potential antibacterial mechanism of Cec4 was detected by flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence and confocal microscopy. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobial peptides against various A. baumannii was determinated with broth microdilution techniques. The biofilm formation and the sensitivity detection of biofilms to antimicrobial peptides were detected by crystal violet staining.Results: In this study, the main secondary structure of the antibacterial peptide Cec4 is α-helix (99.7%) in the hydrophobic environment. Furthermore, after the treatment with Cec4, an amount of leakage of A. baumannii and the destruction of its cell membrane were detected. Moreover, it was observed that FITC-Cec4 can enter the cell, and more cells were held in the G1 phase with peptide Cec4. However, the DNA binding assay of the peptide Cec4 indicates that the peptide does not target DNA. In addition, peptide Cec4 was superior in reducing adherent biofilms of A. baumannii compared to conventional antibiotics and has no cytotoxicity.Conclusion: It is apparent that the antibacterial peptide Cec4 may achieve rapid sterilization by multi-target interaction and presents an attractive therapeutic option for the prevention and control of A. baumannii infections.Keywords: antimicrobial peptides, A. baumannii, antibacterial mechanism, cell membrane

Lin Yang,1–3 Zhenchong Xiong,1–3 Wenzhuo He,1–3 Kunqian Xie,1–3 Shousheng Liu,1–3 Pengfei Kong,1–3 Chang Jiang,1–3 Guifang Guo,1–3,* Liangping Xia1–3,* 1Department of VIP, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; 2State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Guangzhou, China; 3Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Studies have indicated a variation in colon cancer pathology with increased age. More findings have also suggested differences in genetics, biology, and demography in terms of ethnicity. Large-scale studies closely examining tumor location shift with aging and ethnicity are scarce. Objective: We compared the tumor location shift with aging and the difference in survival based on tumor location by age group among the African-American, White, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and methods: We collected 270,390 cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2014. Ethnicity distribution between younger (age 12, and right-sided colon cancer were more common in patients aged ≥70 years. More adverse prognosis was found in younger patients compared to older patients. Tumor location frequency differed based on age; the most pronounced differences were found in White patients. The right-sided colon cancer survival inferiority was present only in White patients. Conclusion: Our findings support the premise of etiological and carcinogenic differences based on tumor location and between younger and older patients. Keywords: age, proximal shift, tumor location, ethnicity, SEER, colorectal cancer

Xuanxuan Dai,1,* Junru Zhang,2,* Guilong Guo,1 Yuepiao Cai,3 Ri Cui,3 Changtian Yin,1 Weidong Liu,3 Rajamanickam Vinothkumar,3 Tingting Zhang,3 Guang Liang,3 Xiaohua Zhang1 1Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; 2College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong 264003, China; 3Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Introduction: Targeted therapies using epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring EGFR mutations, leading to the approval of gefitinib and erlotinib as standard first-line clinical treatment. Inevitably, a considerable proportion of patients develop resistance to EGFR-TKIs due to the acquisition of secondary mutations within EGFR. Therefore, alternative strategies to target NSCLC are desperately needed. Materials and methods: In this study, we have evaluated the effect of a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing agent WZ35, a mono-carbonyl analog of curcumin, to target an inherent biological property of cancer cells, increased oxidative stress. To study whether WZ35 can inhibit NSCLC tumorigenesis, we used gefitinib- and erlotinib-resistant cell line H1975.Results: In this study, we show that WZ35 treatment dramatically decreases cell viability and induces apoptosis in H1975 cells through the generation of ROS. We also found that the ­antitumor activity of WZ35 involved ROS-mediated activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, WZ35 significantly inhibited H1975 xenograft tumor growth through the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Discussion: These findings show that WZ35 may be a promising candidate for the treatment of EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC. Keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor, reactive oxygen species, mono-carbonyl analog of curcumin, ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, NSCLC

Jiaxing Wang,1,* Huaijuan Zhou,2,* Geyong Guo,1 Tao Cheng,1 Xiaochun Peng,1 Xin Mao,1 Jinhua Li,2–4 Xianlong Zhang1 1Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 3Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Bloodstream infection, especially with implants involved, is an often life-threatening condition with high mortality rates, imposing a heavy burden on patients and medical systems. Herein, we firstly deposited homogeneous vanadium metal, V2O3, VO2, and V2O5 nanofilms on quartz glass by magnetron sputtering. Using these platforms, we further investigated the potential antimicrobial efficiency of these nano-VOx films and the interactions of human erythrocytes and bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) with our samples in a novel cell–bacteria coculture model. It was demonstrated that these nano-VOx precipitated favorable antibacterial activity on both bacteria, especially on S. aureus, and this effect increased with higher vanadium valence. A possible mechanism accountable for these results might be elevated levels of vanadium-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species. More importantly, based on hemolysis assays, our nano-VOx films were found to be able to kill prokaryotic cells but were not toxic to mammalian cells, holding the potential for the prevention of implant-related hematogenous infections. As far as we know, this is the first report wherein such nano-VOx films have assisted human erythrocytes to combat bacteria in a valence-dependent manner. Additionally, vanadium ions were released from these nano-VOx films in a sustained manner, and low-valence films possessed better biocompatibility with human fibroblasts. This work may provide new insights for biomedical applications of inorganic vanadium compounds and attract growing attention in this field. From the perspective of surface modification and functionalization, this study holds promise to avail the prophylaxis of bloodstream infections involving implantable biomedical devices. Keywords: surface modification, red blood cell, antibacterial activities, vanadium, nano­materials

JingLun Li,1 JiaoJiao Deng,2 JinXian Yuan,1 Jie Fu,1 XiaoLing Li,2 AiPing Tong,2 YueLong Wang,2 YangMei Chen,1 Gang Guo2 1Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 2State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) commonly leads to lifelong disability due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult central nervous system. Nanomicelles can be used as therapeutic systems to provide effective treatments for SCI. In this study, a novel triblock monomethyl poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide)-poly(trimethylene carbonate) copolymer was successfully synthesized. Next, polymeric nanomicelles loaded with zonisamide (ZNS), a Food and Drug Administration-approved antiepileptic drug, were prepared and characterized. The ZNS-loaded micelles (ZNS-M) were further utilized for the treatment of SCI in vitro and in vivo. The obtained ZNS-M were ~50 nm in diameter with good solubility and dispersibility. Additionally, these controlled-release micelles showed significant antioxidative and neuron-protective effects in vitro. Finally, our results indicated that ZNS-M treatment could promote motor function recovery and could increase neuron and axon density in a hemisection SCI model. In summary, these results may provide an experimental basis for the use of ZNS-M as a clinically applicable therapeutic drug for the treatment of SCI in the future. Keywords: spinal cord injury, zonisamide, nanomicelles

Xiaoling Li,1 Xianlong Ye,2 Jianying Qi,2 Rangrang Fan,1 Xiang Gao,1 Yunzhou Wu,2 Liangxue Zhou,1 Aiping Tong,1 Gang Guo1 1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Life Science, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Wound healing is a complex multifactorial process that relies on coordinated signaling molecules to succeed. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogenic polypeptide that stimulates wound repair; however, precise control over its application is necessary to reduce the side effects and achieve desired therapeutic benefits. Moreover, the extensive oxidative stress during the wound healing process generally inhibits repair of the injured tissues. Topical applications of antioxidants like curcumin (Cur) could protect tissues from oxidative damage and significantly improve tissue remodeling. To achieve much accelerated wound healing effects, we designed a novel dual drug co-loaded in situ gel-forming nanoparticle/hydrogel system (EGF-Cur-NP/H) which acted not only as a supportive matrix for the regenerative tissue, but also as a sustained drug depot for EGF and Cur. In the established excisional full-thickness wound model, EGF-Cur-NP/H treatment significantly enhanced wound closure through increasing granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, relative to normal saline, nanoparticle/hydrogel (NP/H), Cur-NP/H, and EGF-NP/H treated groups. In conclusion, this study provides a biocompatible in situ gel-forming system for efficient topical application of EGF and Cur in the landscape of tissue repair. Keywords: epidermal growth factor, EGF, curcumin, wound healing, thermosensitive hydrogel, nanoparticles

Yunfei Xia,1,* Rulan Yin,1,2,* Ting Fu,1,2 Lijuan Zhang,1,2 Qiuxiang Zhang,1,2 Genkai Guo,1 Liren Li,2 Zhifeng Gu11Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 2School of Nursing, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: Nonadherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may lead to joint damage and function loss. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore Chinese RA patients’ adherence rates and investigate potential risk factors for nonadherence.Methods: A total of 122 RA patients were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2014 to April 2015. Patients were asked to complete a set of standardized self-report questionnaires (Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Short Form-36 questionnaire, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Visual Analog Scale). Independent samples t-tests, chi-square analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze these data.Results: Based on Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, 38% of the patients adhered to DMARDs. Adherence was associated with education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs. Other demographic and clinical characteristics were not associated with adherence. Logistic regression models identified income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs as predictors of medication nonadherence.Conclusion: In this study, 62% of patients with RA were not adherent to their DMARD prescription. Education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were associated with medication adherence, and income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were independent predictors of medication adherence in patients with RA. These findings could help medical personnel develop helpful interventions to improve adherence in RA patients by paying more attention to the patients with these accompanying risk factors and, finally, improve RA patients’ quality of life.Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, adherence

Rangrang Fan,1,* Aiping Tong,1,* Xiaoling Li,1 Xiang Gao,1 Lan Mei,1 Liangxue Zhou,1 Xiaoning Zhang,2 Chao You,1 Gang Guo1 1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy was explored in clinical trials as a promising strategy to improve the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy. In this work, we developed a biodegradable and injectable drug-delivery system by coencapsulation of docetaxel (Doc) and LL37 peptide polymeric nanoparticles (Doc+LL37 NPs) in a thermosensitive hydrogel system for colorectal peritoneal carcinoma therapy. Firstly, polylactic acid (PLA)-Pluronic L35-PLA (PLA-L35-PLA) was explored to prepare the biodegradable Doc+LL37 NPs using a water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion solvent-evaporation method. Then, biodegradable and injectable thermosensitive PLA-L64-PLA hydrogel with lower sol–gel transition temperature at around body temperature was also prepared. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the Doc+LL37 NPs formed with the PLA-L35-PLA copolymer were spherical. Fourier-transform infrared spectra certified that Doc and LL37 were encapsulated successfully. X-ray diffraction diagrams indicated that Doc was encapsulated amorphously. Intraperitoneal administration of Doc+LL37 NPs–hydrogel significantly suppressed the growth of HCT116 peritoneal carcinomatosis in vivo and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Our results suggested that Doc+LL37 NPs–hydrogel may have potential clinical applications. Keywords: intraperitoneal chemotherapy, injectable, nanoparticles, hydrogel, coencapsulation

Yun Fei Li,1,2,* Hong Wu Sun,1,2,* Rong Gao,1–3,* Kai Yun Liu,1,2 Hua Qi Zhang,4 Qi Huan Fu,1,2 Sheng Li Qing,1,2 Gang Guo,1,2 Quan Ming Zou1,2,* 1National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, 2Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Wanzhou Institute for Food and Drug Control of Chongqing, Wanzhou, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: The aim of this study was to prepare a novel nanoemulsion loaded with poorly water-soluble chlorhexidine acetate (CNE) to improve its solubility, and specifically enhance the antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a novel CNE nanoemulsion with an average size of 63.13 nm and zeta potential of −67.13 mV comprising 0.5% CNE, 19.2% Tween 80, 4.8% propylene glycol, and 6% isopropyl myristate was prepared by the phase inversion method. Important characteristics such as the content, size, zeta potential, and pH value of CNE did not change markedly, stored at room temperature for 1 year. Also, compared with chlorhexidine acetate water solution (CHX), the release profile results show that the CNE has visibly delayed releasing effect in both phosphate-buffered saline and artificial saliva solutions (P

YueLong Wang,1,2,* Gang Guo,1,* HaiFeng Chen,2 Xiang Gao,1 RangRang Fan,1 DongMei Zhang,1 LiangXue Zhou2 1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, 2Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this paper Abstract: The aim of this study was to develop a kind of osteogenic biodegradable composite graft consisting of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hPMSC) material for site-specific repair of bone defects and attenuation of clinical symptoms. The novel nano- to micro-structured biodegradable hybrid fibers were prepared by electrospinning. The characteristics of the hybrid membranes were investigated by a range of methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphological study with scanning electron microscopy showed that the average fiber diameter and the number of nanoscale pores on each individual fiber surface decreased with increasing concentration of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCEC). The prepared polylactide (PLA)/PCEC fibrous membranes favored hPMSC attachment and proliferation by providing an interconnected, porous, three-dimensional mimicked extracellular environment. What is more, hPMSCs cultured on the electrospun hybrid PLA/PCEC fibrous scaffolds could be effectively differentiated into bone-associated cells by positive alizarin red staining. Given the good cellular response and excellent osteogenic potential in vitro, the electrospun PLA/PCEC fibrous scaffolds could be one of the most promising candidates for bone tissue engineering. Keywords: electrospinning, PLA, PCEC, hPMSCs, bone tissue engineering

RangRang Fan,1 XiaoHui Deng,2 LiangXue Zhou,1 Xiang Gao,1 Min Fan,1 YueLong Wang,1 Gang Guo11State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 2Department of Human Anatomy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, People's Republic of ChinaAbstract: In this study, L-lactide was used to modify the tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) surface which can form functionalized poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)-grafted β-TCP (g-β-TCP) and PLLA-grafted TTCP (g-TTCP) particles. The g-β-TCP and g-TTCP obtained were incorporated into a PEG-PCL-PEG (PECE) matrix to prepare injectable thermosensitive hydrogel composites. The morphology of the hydrogel composites showed that the g-β-TCP and g-TTCP particles dispersed homogeneously into the polymer matrix, and each hydrogel composite had a three-dimensional network structure. Rheologic analysis showed that the composite had good thermosensitivity. Changes in calcium concentration and pH in simulated body fluid solutions confirmed the feasibility of surface-functionalized calcium phosphate for controlled release of calcium. All the results indicate that g-β-TCP/PECE and g-TTCP/PECE hydrogels might be a promising protocol for tissue engineering.Keywords: injectable, thermosensitivity, surface functionalization, calcium phosphate, biocompatibility

Jin-Feng Qiu,1 Xiang Gao,1,2 Bi-Lan Wang,1 Xia-Wei Wei,1 Ma-Ling Gou,1 Ke Men,1 Xing-Yu Liu,1 Gang Guo,1 Zhi-Yong Qian,1 Mei-Juan Huang1 1Department of Thoracic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical School and Department of Pathophysiology, College of Preclinical and Forensic Medical Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Luteolin (Lu) is one of the flavonoids with anticancer activity, but its poor water solubility limits its use clinically. In this work, we used monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) micelles to encapsulate Lu by a self-assembly method, creating a water-soluble Lu/MPEG-PCL micelle. These micelles had a mean particle size of 38.6 ± 0.6 nm (polydispersity index = 0.16 ± 0.02), encapsulation efficiency of 98.32% ± 1.12%, and drug loading of 3.93% ± 0.25%. Lu/MPEG-PCL micelles could slowly release Lu in vitro. Encapsulation of Lu in MPEG-PCL micelles improved the half-life (t½; 152.25 ± 49.92 versus [vs] 7.16 ± 1.23 minutes, P = 0.007), area under the curve (0–t) (2914.05 ± 445.17 vs 502.65 ± 140.12 mg/L/minute, P = 0.001), area under the curve (0–∞) (2989.03 ± 433.22 vs 503.81 ± 141.41 mg/L/minute, P = 0.001), and peak concentration (92.70 ± 11.61 vs 38.98 ± 7.73 mg/L, P = 0.003) of Lu when the drug was intravenously administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg in rats. Also, Lu/MPEG-PCL micelles maintained the cytotoxicity of Lu on 4T1 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 6.4 ± 2.30 µg/mL) and C-26 colon carcinoma cells (IC50 = 12.62 ± 2.17 µg/mL) in vitro. These data suggested that encapsulation of Lu into MPEG-PCL micelles created an aqueous formulation of Lu with potential anticancer effect. Keywords: luteolin, micelle, MPEG-PCL, cancer therapy

PeiYan Ni, ShaoZhi Fu, Min Fan, Gang Guo, Shuai Shi, JinRong Peng, Feng Luo, ZhiYong QianState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of ChinaAbstract: Polylactide (PLA) electrospun fibers have been reported as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering application, however, the great hydrophobicity limits its broad application. In this study, the hybrid amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/hydrophobic PLA fibrous scaffolds exhibited improved morphology with regular and continuous fibers compared to corresponding blank PLA fiber mats. The prepared PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds favored mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) attachment and proliferation by providing an interconnected porous extracellular environment. Meanwhile, MSCs can penetrate into the fibrous scaffold through the interstitial pores and integrate well with the surrounding fibers, which is very important for favorable application in tissue engineering. More importantly, the electrospun hybrid PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds can enhance MSCs to differentiate into bone-associated cells by comprehensively evaluating the representative markers of the osteogenic procedure with messenger ribonucleic acid quantitation and protein analysis. MSCs on the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds presented better differentiation potential with higher messenger ribonucleic acid expression of the earliest osteogenic marker Cbfa-1 and mid-stage osteogenic marker Col I. The significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity of the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds indicated that these can enhance the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast-like cells. Furthermore, the higher messenger ribonucleic acid level of the late osteogenic differentiation markers OCN (osteocalcin) and OPN (osteopontin), accompanied by the positive Alizarin red S staining, showed better maturation of osteogenic induction on the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds at the mineralization stage of differentiation. After transplantation into the thigh muscle pouches of rats, and evaluating the inflammatory cells surrounding the scaffolds and the physiological characteristics of the surrounding tissues, the PEG/PLA scaffolds presented good biocompatibility. Based on the good cellular response and excellent osteogenic potential in vitro, as well as the biocompatibility with the surrounding tissues in vivo, the electrospun PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds could be one of the most promising candidates in bone tissue engineering.Keywords: electrospinning, fibrous scaffolds, poly(ethylene glycol)/polylactide, mesenchymal stem cells, bone tissue engineering